TAB market update: PORT MACQUARIE CCQ1:20

JENNY Graham may have the three favourites going into Sunday’s Country Championships Port Macquarie qualifier but Taree trainer Wayne Wilkes already has the luck on his side heading into the $150,000 race.

Graham’s Victorem, Awesome Pluck and Portatorio head the market but have all drawn awkwardly in barriers 12, eight and 16 respectively.

Wilkes has the luxury of starting Shotgun Roulette (4) and Fuel (3) from cushy gates and that may be the advantage he needs to get one, or both, of his horses into the top two and qualify for the $500,000 final on day one of The Championships at Royal Randwick on April 7.

“I think the draw is very key and it will be a big factor,” Wilkes said.

MATT JONES’ BEST BETS

PORT MACQUARIE

BEST BET: NEWSFAN (Race 2, No. 1)

Kim Waugh looks to be giving him an easy kill here and it’s hard to see her getting beaten as long as she gets luck from the gate she will be too good for them.

NEXT BEST: VICTOREM (Race 7, No. 5)

This horse will go on to Group racing after this Country Championships tilt and he looks a class above these. The barrier is a slight concern.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 4, 7, Race 6: 2, 6, 7, Race 7: 1, 4, 5, 9, Race 8: 1, 2

TRAINER TO FOLLOW

JENNY GRAHAM has a stranglehold on the main race but also may walk away with a few more wins.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

ANDREW ADKINS is back his home track for Sunday’s big meeting and is on a few winning chances.

SCROLL DOWN FOR MATT’S EXTENDED PREVIEW & TIPS

Andrew Adkins has some good chances on his home track on Sunday.Source:AAP

SHAYNE O’CASS’ BEST BETS

NOWRA

BEST BET: TRUST WHO (Race 5, No. 10)

Is owned by Jason Coyle who trained this gelding’s sire, Trusting. Trust Who is crying out for more ground, hopefully the mile is far enough for him. Will win very soon.

NEXT BEST: MUGELLO (Race 3, No. 1)

Easily the most interesting runner all day. This horse is a 5YO gelding on debut but on top of that, he has a million-dollar pedigree being by Redoute’s Choice and a half to True Jewels, who won the 2001 Blue Diamond. Has had issues but trials have been super encouraging. Bucko on.

VALUE BET: CAPPAMORE (Race 7, No. 12)

Another one of the Jason Coyle team. This 3YO filly has placed at all three of her outings, always hitting the line with purpose and speed. Go well again.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1,2,3,6, Race 5: 10, Race 6: 1,2,4,5,10, Race 7: 11,12

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

GRANT BUCKLEY has a grand book, his best surely looks to be Mugello who should just go out and win if he is as good as he has looked in his trials.

******

“At the last meeting the rail was out five metres and at the one before that it was out three metres so the inside fence hasn’t been used and there will be a good patch there,” Wilkes said.

“I think we can get a lot softer run and Jenny’s will have to make their own luck whereas we’ll have a bit more luck on our side. The best ride might win the race on the day.”

Shotgun Roulette qualified for the Country Championships Final last year when running second to Cogliere in last year’s Mid-North coast heat at Taree.

Wilkes says she is leading his charge again.

“I think she’s improved since last year and she knows what she’s there to do now,” Wilkes said. “She’s won at the distance, she’s won at the track and she’s coming off a good run where she carried 60.5kg and she drops down to 55.5kg so it’s a big difference. She’ll jump pretty well and if she can be sitting a little handier than midfield I’ll be very happy.”

Wayne Wilkes hopes to secure a spot in the Country Championships Final with Shotgun Roulette in Sunday’s qualifier at Port Macquarie. Picture: Lindsay MollerSource:News Corp Australia

Fuel is Wilkes’ other runner and he has done everything but win this preparation and is coming off a 2¾ length third to Portatorio at Taree on January 23.

Wilkes is hoping the pair’s vastly different barriers help Fuel reverse the last start result.

“He’s a tough horse and he’ll run a tough race,” Wilkes said. “He’ll probably be running about second and if they run it soft he’ll be hard to run down, although it does look like there will be enough speed in the race.

“He’s run some terrific races and has been beaten by some good horses, and only just been beaten by them so there’s some good form around him.”

Wilkes may join Graham and have three in the race with Gripped the first emergency.

And if he gets a run, he won’t be there making up the numbers from a favourable draw.

“I’m hoping there is a scratching because he’s a tough on-pace runner like Fuel and he’ll keep on running,” Wilkes said.

The Country Championships, in its fourth edition, has quickly become one of the most popular racing events on the calendar. “It puts the spotlight on country racing and there’s a lot of good trainers in the country,” Wilkes said.

Meantime, local trainer John Sprague is looking forward to seeing how well Shoredtich runs at Port Macquarie after an eye-catching, but luckless, debut run.

Victorem is favourite for the Country Championships Qualifier at Port Macquarie on Sunday.Source:AAP

Shoreditch lines up in the opening race today, a 3YO Maiden Showcase Handicap (1100m) and he probably should be heading into it with an undefeated record.

He was beaten by a length on debut after being forced to settle to the rear of the field before looking by far the best runner on the line.

Sprague says he can go one better today and win.

“It was a very unlucky run and I think the race experience would have helped him so much. He flew home that day. I loved the way he found the line,” Sprague said.

“He’s nowhere near yet but he’s a big strong boy and he’s got to learn what it’s all about. The small field and nice long straight will suit him a lot more.

“He’s probably my best of the day.”

INSIDE MAIL with MATT JONES

PORT MACQUARIE

RACE 1 (12.50pm)

1. Shoreditch couldn’t muster enough early speed from a wide gate on debut and was forced back in a small field but the way he hit the line for second was very encouraging. 3. Haames would have gone a lot closer to winning last start if he didn’t draw the widest. He was given too much to do in the straight but was doing his best work late. 4. Could I Be drops in grade but will still need a big improvement to win. 8. Heaven Help Me may just be the fittest runner in the race.

BETTING STRATEGY: Quinella 1,3.

RACE 2 (1.30pm)

Kim Waugh looks to be trying to give 1. Newsfan the confidence of a win here. She wasn’t far off winning her first two at the provincials in higher grade last preparation and she comes into this off a nice trial. The wide gate is the only concern. With any luck, she wins. 5. Natural Image has placed at each start this preparation but hasn’t really gone close. Maybe Corey Brown can get her to the next level. It’s really hard to look past the favourite here.

BETTING STRATEGY: NEWSFAN to win.

RACE 3 (2.05pm)

Tough race. 1. Wewonya and 2. Douro have the class edge on their rivals and they shape up well for this race. The two on the rise that may challenge them though are 3. Forever Alone and 4. Manhattan Road, both of whom are coming off very nice runs and are rock-hard fit for this race. These are the leading four and expect them to fight it out. I’ll be hoping the topweight gets the job done though.

BETTING STRATEGY: WEWONYA to win.

RACE 4 (2.40pm)

7. Arloarlo is knocking on the door for a win and expect her to be strong late and she should enjoy a comfortable run to give her the best chance of letting down well. 6. Wallaman has shown some early promise and in a race like this, with a number of them having many starts for no wins, he might break through here but needs to overcome the wide gate. 2. Mister Maker, from a good draw and with a leading hoop on, is the longshot chance. 8. Lady Sunday is the other hope.

BETTING STRATEGY: ARLOARLO to win.

RACE 5 (3.15pm)

4. Rage Against shoots for four-straight wins and it would be a brave punter to tip against, particularly since once of those wins was at Wyong. This is his 12th run this preparation, though, and the good form has to end sometime. The drop back to 1800m might be what gets 7. Exilia Miss back in form. 9. Art Attack is racing like he needs 1800m now and 1. Bob’s A Dazzler can return to form despite the big weight.

BETTING STRATEGY: RAGE AGAINST to win.

RACE 6 (4pm)

If 2. Gripped doesn’t get a run in the Country Championships race he’ll be giving this much easier race a shake. He will be up on the speed and giving a good sight. 7. Majestic Pedrille, who has Don’t Give A Damn form is a huge threat and she’s a leading contender along with 6. Patriot, who didn’t handle the travel to Sydney for a Highway Handicap last start and expect him to bounce back. 4. Rocket Monkey is flying at the moment and should be considered.

BETTING STRATEGY: MAJESTIC PEDRILLE to win.

RACE 7 (4.40pm)

The big one of the day and I don’t think there’s any doubt that 5. Victorem is the best horse in the race but he needs to do it from barrier 12. Even luck and he wins. Stablemate 4. Awesome Pluck won’t be worried by drawing gate eight and he’s the one who can threaten off a good tempo from midfield. It could be a trifecta for Jenny Graham with 1. Portatorio, who trialled great in the lead-up. Outside of Graham’s horses, 9. Shotgun Roulette will be a better run and may get the break to upstage them.

BETTING STRATEGY: VICTOREM to win.

RACE 8 (5.15pm)

If 1. Jemily doesn’t succumb to the big weight, she can win this race. It’s hard to see her not finishing in the first three. 2. Kate’s Pearl looks to be the threat after dropping in grade for this and getting a 3.5kg weight advantage. 12. Smithtown was only beaten just over two lengths by Jemily last start and she’s 2kg better off at the weight this time, and Ben Looker sticks.

BETTING STRATEGY: KATE’S PEARL to win.

NOWRA

CO-trainer Jim Lee could not have been bullish about the prospects of stable recruit See The Show, who has conditions made to suit in Sunday’s Dr. Bill Ryan Memorial Handicap (1000m).

The daughter of Tickets is trained in partnership with Jim’s brother Greg and is owned by another of the siblings, Wayne.

See The show has had only the one run for Hayai Lodge, that was a creditable fourth beaten a little over 2½ lengths in a 1000m Class 2 at Hawkesbury on January 24.

Prior to joining the Lees camp, See The Show had won two of her six starts, those victories coming at Beaumont — one on a heavy 10, the other on a good 4.

See The Show is way down in class today, she’s drawn barrier 3 and has the services of outstanding jockey, Koby Jennings.

“I think she’ll win,’’ Lee said. “She didn’t have a trial or anything before her first run, so she will have improved and I think she’s spot on. She will be in the first three (in running), no worries. She’s fresh enough to show up over 1000m, I didn’t want to give her any further than that.”

As for See The Show’s rider, the entire Lees’ clan have the utmost faith and confidence in Jennings, who is apprenticed to Jim and Greg at Randwick.

“He’s just come back from a ‘holiday’ so I hope he’s nice and fresh,’’ Lee said. “He is a top-class jockey with beautiful hands on a horse, that’s what I have always liked about him and he’s a terrific kid.’’

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Hayai’s 1983 Caulfield Cup win with Neville Voigt in the saddle. The gelding won 10 of 63 starts and over $800,000 in earnings. Hayai also won the H.E. Tancred Stakes as back to back Metropolitan Handicaps and Craven Plates.

As for Jennings, he stands a tremendous chance of bagging an early double with See The Show preceded by Jingles in the opener, the Foster Emery Memorial Handicap over the mile.

Jingles has drawn a soft barrier which should ensure she is close enough to strike at this, her fourth run of the new campaign. Jingles is trained by Mark Newnham with whom Jennings has carved out a very successful and profitable trainer/jockey combination.

Training honours on Sunday’s card may well go the way of Jason Coyle who has a strong hand to play in numerous races. One horse that seems certain to make the trip down from Coyle’s Warwick Farm HQ is Trust Who, who runs in the I Poles Australia Class 1 & Maiden Plate (1600m). Trust Who is owned by Coyle who trained the gelding’s sire, Trusting, to win the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1600m) in 2009 seven days prior to his luckless second to Denman in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1500m).